Statutory Declarations

A Statutory Declaration is a formal statement made in a prescribed way affirming that something is true to the best knowledge of that person. The Statutory Declaration will need to be signed in the presence of a solicitor, commissioner for oaths or notary public.

A Statutory Declaration can be used to change one’s name legally. The person has to renounce their old name and adopt a new one in a document.

Since a Statutory Declaration needs to be completely truthful and accurate, a solicitor other than the one acting for you in a legal matter will deal with the Statutory Declaration where one is required. This is to ensure that the declaration is valid on the grounds of being impartial, and it cannot therefore be certified by a solicitor acting for you.

Statutory Declarations can also be used for declarations of identity, nationality, marital status.